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How To Dye With Cochineal

Cochineal can be used with or without mordants and produces reds, pinks and purples. Cochineal is a natural dye substance that comes from the crushed bodies of insects, Dactylopius coccus, found on prickly pear cacti.

Difficulty Level:

Average

Time Required:

12 hours

Here’s How:

Weigh out the amount of cochineal that you need.

Crush and grind the cochineal into a fine powder. (You can use an old coffee grinder.)

Place the ground cochineal into a small glass jar and cover with water.

Add tartaric acid to the cochineal/water mixture to release more of the colour.

Let the cochineal mixture sit overnight.

The following day, fill a dyepot with hot water, sufficient to cover the fibre completely.

Bring the water to a boil and add the cochineal mixture.

Boil for 15 minutes, and skim off the froth and cochineal that has risen to the surface.

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